“One floor down from the penthouse,” I told her, somewhat surprised that she didn’t already know that. “They are aware of the move and have agreed to it. Don’t worry about that. In fact, they are pleased with the arrangements. The extra rooms in the carriage house are for whomever Vivian decides to hire to assist her with her duties. She likes it because the staff she brings on will be right on site.”
“The staff?” she asked, her voice sounding slightly high pitched. She was recognizably overwhelmed.
“Krystina, look at me,” I ordered. When she turned her head, her chocolate brown eyes seemed to grow impossibly larger in her beautiful face. I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger. “I never wanted the domestic life before you. A house in the suburbs just wasn’t for me. But now that I want it, I will only have the best for you. For us. The sooner you come to terms with that, the easier time we’ll have with planning our new home.”
“I’m no stranger to nice houses, Alex. My mom and Frank have a nice four-bedroom. But before Frank, my mom and I lived in a small apartment,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “This house you planned…it just seems a little over the top.”
I grinned.
“Have you ever known me to do things any other way?”
She relaxed then and returned my smile.
“No, I haven’t.”
Then she laughed. Instantly, the mood in the room shifted and my shoulders relaxed. All the tension I felt twenty minutes earlier just slipped away. The sound of her laughter, no matter how bleak of a mood I was in, would always brighten my world. It amazed me. She amazed me.
I reached up to touch her face again. I ran my hand over the soft line of her jaw, before cupping her cheek and turning her head to face me.
“You’re beautiful,” I told her.
Her cheek warmed under my palm from the unexpected compliment.
“Cut that out,” she said as the delicate blush deepened. She playfully swatted my arm.
“Cut what out?”
“That look in your eyes. It’s like you want to throw me down and devour me.”
“Maybe I do.”
I removed my hand from her cheek and slid it between her thighs. Pressing my thumb against the material of her slacks, I exerted pressure in all the right places. She closed her eyes and leaned into me. Then, rather abruptly, she pulled away and sneezed. Not once, but twice.
“Damn it!” she swore and she reached into her purse for a tissue. “Sorry. I’m not very sexy right now.”
I chuckled, amused by her irritation.
“I need you to feel better, Miss Cole. I left you alone last night so that you could get your rest.” I paused and flashed her a wicked smile. “But my cock won’t be patient for much longer.”
“Your sexual appetite is absolutely insatiable. Do you know that?” She shook her head at me, then stood to throw away her tissue. When she returned, she looked back at the blueprints. “So tell me about this eight car garage. Are you planning to buy enough cars to fill it?”
Her tone was somewhat mocking and I grinned at the sarcasm I’d come to love.
“I already have enough to fill it,” I stated with a deliberate hint of arrogance. “Well, technically I have seven, one of which is yours, and a bike.”
“How did I not know that you had eight vehicles?” she asked incredulously.
“You never asked. Two of them only get pulled out in the summer months. We haven’t been through a summer together yet, so I never thought to mention it. However, I did tell you that collecting expensive cars was a hobby of mine.”
“You did, but…”
I could tell she was over thinking again. No surprise there.
“What’s going on in that inquisitive brain of yours?”
“I just feel like lately…I don’t know. There’s so much I don’t know about you. Well, not you personally, but about your world. Your business and your possessions.” She paused and shook her head. “I know it shouldn’t matter, but it kind of does. Am I making sense?”
“You’re making perfect sense, but it doesn’t matter right at this moment. You’ll know about all of my holdings soon enough.”
“What do you mean?”
My newfound good mood instantly vanished. One minute we were planning our home, then the next I was feeling the sharp slap from reality. It was a reminder that we may never be free from it. I sighed, a heavy tiredness settling in my bones. I didn’t want to have this conversation today, but there was no use putting it off. She would know everything in a few days anyway.
“Depending on what happens with this fucking news reporter, I might need to protect my assets. There are too many unknowns at the moment. As we speak, Stephen is drawing up papers to transfer everything over to you in the event that something happens to me.”
Krystina’s brow furrowed. If she was shocked at what I told her, she didn’t show it. Instead, she looked sad and confused. Her eyes searched mine as she placed a hand over mine.
“Everything will be okay, Alex.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Let’s not talk about what-if’s. Okay?”
“We need to,” I asserted. I pulled my hand from under hers and pushed the blueprints aside. “In fact, we should discuss some of it now while we have the time. There are things you need to know about my assets.”
She shook her head.
“Alex, I will look forward to the day when I can learn all about it. I’m actually kind of excited by the idea. But I want to do something else right now.”
My eyebrows rose when she unexpectedly stood, grabbed her coat, and slung her purse over her shoulder.
“And what might that something else be?” I asked curiously.
“Well, you know that I was surrounded by car talk for years because of Frank. I’m sure my stepfather will want to hear all about your collection. Take me to the storage facility. I want to check them out.”
I wasn’t sure where this sudden need to see my vehicles came from. I was sure she had an angle, as Krystina rarely did anything without purpose. But whatever it was, I was grateful. The distraction might be good for me.
Perhaps it would clear my head before I made the trip to Justine’s place.
Almost immediately, a knot of dread formed in my gut at the thought of going to my sisters. I tried to suppress it as I stood to help Krystina into her coat. Once she had it buttoned, I pulled her into a fierce hug. I held her tight and breathed in the scent of her hair. It was always a soft smell, like magnolia blossoms on a warm summer day. After a moment, I pulled back and fixed an intense gaze on her.
“Thank you,” I murmured.
“For what?”
“For always knowing exactly what I need.”
21
krystina
Alexander and I took the Tesla over to the storage garage. It was further away than I would have imagined, well outside the city, and took us over forty minutes to get there. Occasionally, I would sneak a few glances at him out of the corner of my eye. He seemed tired. The stress lines that marred his face made him seem so much older than he really was. But worse, I didn’t like his tone when he mentioned Stephen drawing up transfer of asset papers. I wasn’t sure what that entailed, but Alexander sounded resolute, almost like he was giving up.
When we pulled up to the front of the building, he got out of the car and came around to open my door. Taking Alexander’s hand, I allowed him to guide me into a standing position. I smiled up at him and recalled Hale’s words about the power I possessed. Perhaps the way for me to save Alexander was to remind him why he needed to keep fighting. It was part of the reason I suggested the impromptu drive over. The trip to the storage facility was meant as a distraction from the unfortunate situation around him, but I also hoped it would make him see some of the things he would be giving up.
Alexander pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door that would lead us into the garage. However, instead of a garage, we entered into a hallway of sor
ts and were presented with another door. Alexander pressed his palm to a glass screen that was mounted on the wall to the right of the door. The screen seemed to scan his palm and then flashed green. When he moved his hand away, a pin pad appeared on the glass and he typed in a series of numbers.
“High tech,” I mused aloud, wondering why in the world there would be so much security at a parking garage.
“It’s necessary. There’s a lot of money in here. Now give me your hand.”
Without waiting, he took hold of my wrist and pressed my palm to the screen.
“What are you doing?” I asked in confusion.
“Protecting my assets. It’s a good thing you suggested coming here today, or else I may have forgotten.”
He held my hand in place until the screen flashed green again. Alexander then entered more numbers into the pin pad and I heard a click. I could only assume it was from the door unlocking.
“Forgotten about what?”
“To give you access. In the event that I’m…inaccessible, you may need it.”
Instantly, my heart constricted from a wave of sadness. I knew he was referring to the potential repercussions from Charlie’s interview, and I found all this talk about transferring his wealth to me to be unsettling. I didn’t want Alexander’s money. I only wanted him.
Will people believe Alex tried to cover it up? What is the statute of limitations for Justine? Could either of them really face jail time?
I didn’t want to think about the possibility. Alexander was surrounded by a slew of wealthy and powerful people. From lawyers to judges, someone was bound to know what to do about this. After all, they were only children at the time. I had to believe everything would work out and I forced my trepidation aside.
Once we entered, I scanned the massive space. The first two spots were empty. However, the third space held the 1931 Bugatti, the same car we had taken to the Stone’s Hope Gala. When my gaze traveled past the Bugatti, I gasped. The need for so much security was suddenly very clear. The vintage car wasn’t the only thing with an expensive price tag.
“Alex! Are you freaking kidding me?”
I hurried across the expansive storage garage to come face to face with a car that took my breath away.
“You like?” he asked, coming up beside me.
“This is insane. You actually own a Ferrari?”
“A Ferrari Sergio to be exact. There are only six of this design in the world.”
I was practically drooling over the sleek red and black convertible. I reached out, but then pulled my hand back, afraid to mar the hood with my fingerprints.
“Frank is going to lose his mind when he hears you have this.”
He laughed and pointed to the far end of the garage.
“Come here, angel. Let me show you this.”
Taking hold of my elbow, he led me past an Aston Martin and a Jaguar, two luxury vehicles that seemed to pale in comparison to the Ferrari. We stopped in front of a Ducati motorcycle. The model or year I couldn’t be sure of, as motorcycles had never been my thing. However, regardless of my tastes, I couldn’t help but to admire the sleek lines. I imagined being strapped in behind Alexander, with the speed and power between my legs. I ran my hand over its leather seat and looked up at Alexander.
“This is a very sexy piece of machinery.”
He came up behind me and circled his arms around my waist.
“I never took you for a biker chic.”
“I’m not really, but then again, I didn’t think you were into the whole MC thing either.”
“Eh,” he said with a shrug. “It’s a toy really. Matteo used to own a bike. I only bought this so I could go riding with him on occasion. But he sold his when he was trying to start up the restaurant, so I don’t ride often anymore. Now, I’ll venture out of the city only once or twice in a summer and let her rip. I thought about selling it or giving it to Matt, but I like it too much. It’s good when I want to clear my head.”
“I can imagine the exhilaration. The need for speed. The power.”
“You have no idea, angel,” he murmured into my ear.
I tried to picture Alexander on the bike wearing one of his designer suits. The idea was almost comical. But then I pictured him in jeans and a black leather jacket.
Now that’s something I could get used to.
My core tightened, thinking about how much I loved his ass in denim. I could visualize myself sitting behind him on the bike, my legs straddling his hips as I clung to his hard body. Just the simple idea of our bodies pressed together was enough to be a total turn on. The tightening in my belly intensified and began to travel south. I could almost feel the wind whipping my hair as the scenery flew by, my crotch pushing against him.
Perhaps I am a biker chic at heart…
Lost in my fantasy, I didn’t notice the way his breathing had increased. Before I knew what was happening, Alexander’s arm shot out and he grabbed me. Spinning me around, he pinned me against the Jaguar that was parked next to the bike. He pushed me backward, pressed my spine against the hood, and covered my body with his.
He buried his face into my neck and breathed in deeply. Peppering kisses along my hairline, he moved over my ear and bit my lobe. I threw back my head, welcoming him to take more, as his lips traveled down my neck. I was suddenly desperate, feeling as if it had been way too long since he’d been inside me. Considering how regularly we normally had sex, my recent head cold put a major damper on things. I no longer just felt like it had been too long – it was too long.
Untucking my blouse, he shoved it up roughly over my breasts. He bit down, capturing a nipple through the lace of my bra. My back arched as the taut peaks immediately hardened in response.
When he moved back up to my neck, I reached down and slid my hand between us, searching for the buckle of his pants. He shifted slightly to give me easier access. Freeing him from the restriction of slacks, he moaned when I grasped his hard erection and began to pump. The sound of his moan because of my actions was a heady feeling, and it just might have been the sexiest sound I’d ever heard.
“Jesus Christ, Krystina,” he grunted. “You, on the hood of my car, is the most erotic thing on the planet. I want to fuck you. Right here. Right now.”
If his words weren’t enough to unravel me, his fingers were. His hand slid down my belly, under my waistband, until he reached my wet slit. His forefinger circled my nub furiously, as if he was in a hurry to get me off. As if he were just as desperate as I was. I wanted that, but I wanted him inside me even more. I continued stroking him, my grasp tightening around his cock, as he plunged two fingers inside to stroke my walls.
“Oh, god. Yes. Just like that!” I cried out, my screams echoing off the concrete walls of the garage. His talents never ceased to amaze me. At times, I felt like I could orgasm with just a simple look from him. Ours eyes met, and I saw his were a blazing inferno of desire, as he continued to push me higher and higher.
The unexpected sound of a cell phone ringing interrupted us, so loud and intrusive that I almost thought it wasn’t real.
“Shit!” Alexander hissed and removed his hand from my body. “It’s Hale.”
My frustration came out with an exaggerated exhale.
What the hell!
Knowing that Hale only called if it was important, I released my grip on his cock and collapsed against the hood so that he could take the call.
Fumbling in the pockets of the pants that were below his hips, it took him a minute to dig out his cell. I smirked, the vision almost comical. Once he located it, he pursed his lips in annoyance.
“What is it?” Alexander barked into the phone. After a moment, his irritated expression turned to worry. I sat up in alarm.
“What’s wrong?”
He held up a finger to silence me.
“I’ll be right there,” Alexander told Hale. He hung up the phone and looked down at me. “It’s Hale’s mother. She fell and is being transferred to New York-Presbyterian Hospi
tal. I’m going to meet him there. I’ll drop you off home along the way.”
I recalled Alexander telling me about Hale’s mother a few months back. She was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s and was living in a long-term care facility. Hale struggled with the situation, especially since his mother’s moments of clarity had recently become less and less frequent.
“I can come with you,” I offered.
Alexander seemed to contemplate something before he shook his head. The haunted look was back in his eyes.
“No, angel. It’s not that I don’t want you there, but I have to stop at Justine’s place afterward. I probably should have mentioned it to you before now. I don’t expect her to be there. However, if she is, I need to have a conversation with her. Alone.”
I nodded my understanding and reached for his hand.
“As long as you know to call or text if you need anything. I can have Samuel drive me to meet you if needed.”
After tucking his manhood back into his pants, he kissed the top of my head and pulled me close.
“The only thing I need is for you to be home waiting for me. I believe we started something that needs to be finished.”
He tried to come across as playful, but I wasn’t buying it. The shadows that I managed to chase away from him were now back. The only thing I could do was to do as he asked.
“I’ll be waiting,” I promised.
22
krystina
After Alexander dropped me off, I found Samuel waiting for me in the lobby. Alexander had called him on the drive back, so I knew he would be there to greet me and escort me up to the penthouse. However, as much as I was dying to shed my high heels for the day, I had a pit stop to make first.
“Samuel, do you know which apartment is Vivian’s?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I cringed, still hating the way he addressed me, but I didn’t bother to correct him this time. Some things were just ingrained.
“I want to stop by there for a bit. Would you mind taking me there?” He hesitated. I couldn’t blame him after the way I ditched him earlier in the day. He needed assurance, so I added, “You can be with me the whole time.”
Set In Stone (The Stone Series Book 3) Page 17